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‘Potential breach of security,’ during TCAP testing led to Tennessee principal’s suspension, resignation

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‘Potential breach of security,’ during TCAP testing led to Tennessee principal’s suspension, resignation


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – “I screwed up,” that is what former Randolph Howell Elementary STEM School principal Dr. Michael Ford allegedly said when school district officials started looking into TCAP “testing irregularity” at the Maury County school back in April.

Ford was indefinitely suspended on April 23, 2024, and then resigned two days later, as the district investigated his conduct with a group of students during the statewide test.

Previous Coverage: Midstate elementary school principal resigns amid questions over TCAP test integrity

According to the district’s investigative report, Ford pulled 35 fourth-grade students with “the highest rate of discipline concerns” from their normal classrooms and administered the TCAP test to those students himself. The report claims Ford then transcribed those students’ test answers, possibly violating testing rules.

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The revelations come as part of MCPS’s 119-page investigation titled “POTENTIAL BREACH OF SECURITY REPORT” which was sent to the Tennessee Department of Education on April 26, 2024, and obtained by WSMV4 Investigates through a public records request.

According to the investigative report, Ford was questioned by Keith Stacey, the school district’s test coordinator, and admitted to administering the test to a “behavior group” of 35 kids and instructing them to circle their answers in testing booklets, instead of using test answer documents. Ford then allegedly told Stacey that he later transcribed what students indicated their answers to be by bubbling in their answer documents.

The report states that Ford asked at one point “Is that now what we are supposed to do?’  But when Stacy explained to him that transcription is only allowed for students with a documented accommodation or if there is a specific situation requiring transcription, Ford allegedly replied “I screwed up, I screwed up.”

Ford’s conduct with the 35 students first came into question a week after TCAP testing began, when a fourth-grade teacher came forward with concerns that testing was not being conducted as “she thought it should be.”

That teacher explained that some students had been pulled from their regular class to test with the school principal, and “several students” had not “bubbled in their answers.”

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During the district’s investigation, one teacher questioned stated in an email that a student claimed she had not completed the ELA portion of the test, but when she saw her answer document the next day, all the bubbles were filled in.

In another email included in the report, a second teacher wrote that a couple of students said that some of their answers on the MATH portion of the test were filled in differently than how they answered in their booklets.

There was also a claim by one of those teachers that the windows on the doors of the room where Ford was testing students were covered with paper.

As part of the investigation, former Assistant Vice Principal Beth Hamilton was also questioned. She served as the building test coordinator at Howell Elementary and retired the day after Ford resigned.

The investigation says Hamilton confirmed that 35 students had been pulled on Ford’s suggestion that the group be created based on their behavior and due to fourth grade losing a teacher.

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Hamilton said the behavioral group was not on the school’s original testing schedule and that she “forgot to submit the change” according to the report.

Ford allegedly told Stacey that “[w]e looked at discipline tracker and we sorted students into similar groups based on performance, to ensure students had the best testing environment possible.”

Ford went on according to the investigative report to say that “we took our top kids with the best shot and placed them in the same testing environment’ and “I took the behavior group to help out…and allow for all kids to test in the best environment for them.”

The report says Hamilton told district investigators that “she did not know of Dr. Ford transcribing student answers from the test booklets to the answer documents.”

WSMV4 Investigates reached out to Maury County School, the Department of Education and Ford for an interview to discuss the investigation and the claims made by teachers and students at Howell Elementary.

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MCPS denied our request saying in an email “Superintendent Ventura does not discuss current or former employee personnel issues externally and respectfully declines your request for an interview. We believe the issue has been thoroughly investigated and resolved.”

The DOE said by email “[t]he department does not comment on potential or ongoing investigations.” The DOE also said in an earlier email that “staff traveled to the district and oversaw the production of replacement answer documents to ensure students were not negatively impacted.”

And while Ford said in a text message that he could not speak on camera until the matter was fully resolved, he did write that [g]roups were formed to ensure students had the best testing environment possible for success, and district leadership was informed of these groupings and their rationale in advance.”

WSMV4 Investigates has also filed a public records request with the DOE, to obtain any investigation or reports that it produces, and we are still waiting for the production of those materials.

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Tennessee

Titans Working to Make Major Change for Will Levis

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Titans Working to Make Major Change for Will Levis


The Tennessee Titans are still trying to figure out if they have their long-term quarterback or not. Will Levis has shown flashes of being a big-time talent, but he has also had major consistency issues and has been a turnover machine at times as well.

Figuring out what they’re going to do at quarterback will be the biggest decision that the Titans need to make throughout the rest of the season and into the offseason.

With that in mind, Levis has shown major progress over the last few games.

Since coming back at full health from a shoulder injury, Levis has had three straight solid games. He is starting to look the part of a potential franchise quarterback once again.

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That being said, Tennessee is working with Levis to make one major change. They want him to take less sacks.

Brian Callahan, the Titans’ head coach, spoke out about what he wants to see from his second-year quarterback.

“Less hunting of magic plays and big plays and more taking it as it comes, sort of playing each play as it presents itself and when you get a chance to be aggressive, be aggressive,” Callahan said. “When there’s a chance to make a play with your feet, make a play with your feet.”

Over his past three games, Levis has completed 53 of his 78 pass attempts for 748 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Those numbers show the progress he has already made since his return to the field. If he can continue developing his game, reducing his number of turnovers, and taking less sacks, there is a legitimate chance that he could end up being Tennessee’s long-term quarterback.

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Only time will tell, but the Titans have plenty of reasons for optimism. Levis had a rough start to the season, but is rebounding nicely.

All of that being said, it will be interesting to see how he plays throughout the rest of the season and what decision Tennessee chooses to make about his future.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!



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How to watch Iowa State women’s basketball vs. Middle Tennessee: TV channel, live stream

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How to watch Iowa State women’s basketball vs. Middle Tennessee: TV channel, live stream


The Iowa State women look to get back on track before returning to Iowa when they face Middle Tennesee on Saturday during the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off. 

The game is part of a series of games held over the Thanksgiving holiday, as the Cyclones (5-2) faced defending national champion South Carolina on Thursday.

Iowa State, ranked 15th in the nation, has dropped two of three since starting the year with four straight wins. They fell to Northern Iowa earlier this month before rebounding with a win over Drake prior to departing for Florida. 

The Cyclones never got on track vs. South Carolina, scoring the first three points before seeing the No. 4 Gamecocks go on a 19-0 run to end the quarter. They trailed 35-9 at the half before playing USC even in the third. 

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Audi Crooks, a sophomore, leads Iowa State in scoring at just under 22 points per game. Addy Brown, who was held scoreless vs. South Carolina, adds 16 and a team-high nine rebounds a night. 

Middle Tennessee (6-1) picked up a 54-49 win over Purdue of the Big Ten on Thursday. They have won four straight since a close loss at Tennessee. 

Here are the details on how to watch Iowa State vs. Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Nov. 30:

Who: Iowa State vs. Middle Tennessee in women’s basketball action

When: 12:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, November 30

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Where: Suncoast Arena | Fort Myers, Florida

Live Stream: Stream Iowa State vs. Middle Tennessee live on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

TV Channel: Women Sports Network

Betting Odds: Not available

Our Prediction: Iowa State 76, Middle Tennessee 72

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Early-Down Success Rate Will Determine if Vanderbilt Can Upset Tennessee

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Early-Down Success Rate Will Determine if Vanderbilt Can Upset Tennessee


Vanderbilt has an excellent opportunity on Saturday to truly announce they have arrived as a program under Clark Lea.

While the Commodores won five games in 2022, three of those were against Group of 5 and FCS-level schools. Outside of their two wins against Kentucky and Florida, the only other one-score game they competed in against SEC competition was a loss to Missouri.

This year has been different.

Not only has Vanderbilt upset Alabama when they were the No. 1 team in the country, but they also took Missouri to overtime and lost by three points to Texas.

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They have competed in this conference for the first time in a while, but the true test for them will be against Tennessee, their in-state rival who has completely owned them during the last five matchups.

Vanderbilt has already locked up their bowl berth, so when it comes to furthering the results for this season, the game doesn’t really matter, but everyone inside and outside of this program knows what it would mean to take down Tennessee, especially with the added motivation of them potentially being able to end their College Football Playoff dreams.

For the Commodores to have a chance, early-down success rate is key.

When they’ve been able to set up short down-and-distance situations, this offense has thrived, but when they haven’t, like during the past two games, they have struggled.

“Vanderbilt’s offensive success is entirely dependent on its early-down running game. If running back Sedrick Alexander and quarterback Diego Pavia can consistently churn out gains of four or five yards, offensive coordinator Tim Beck can dig deep into his bag of tricks … If the Commodores fall into 2nd-and-long and 3rd-and-long situations, however, they become predictable and easy to defend,” explains Henry Oelhafen and Adam Burns of The Vanderbilt Hustler.

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It’s not going to be easy for them to accomplish their goal of getting ahead of the chains, though.

Tennessee enters this contest allowing just 2.78 yards per carry and less than 100 for the game, so it’s going to take patience and resilience for Vanderbilt to keep trusting the rushing attack in hopes that it eventually breaks things open.

If they can find some cracks in the armor of the Volunteers in early-down situations so they are in favorable offensive setups, then that will keep the Commodores in a position to pull off another upset.

If not, the misery against Tennessee will likely continue.



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